The Five-Tribes Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CoRRP), representing the Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi tribes, has announced a boycott of all Nagaland state government functions, including Independence Day celebrations, to protest the composition of a commission tasked with reviewing the state’s 48-year-old reservation policy. The decision, made after a three-hour closed-door meeting in Kohima, reflects deep discontent with the inclusion of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the seven-member Job Reservation Commission (JRC), approved by the state cabinet on August 6, 2025.

CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy, addressing a press conference, acknowledged the government’s move to form the commission but slammed its makeup, arguing that including groups like the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC), and Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN) compromises impartiality. “We demand a commission of serving or retired bureaucrats for an unbiased review,” Semy stated. Member secretary GK Zhimomi called the inclusion of CSOs a “partisan approach” that undermines fairness, noting the commission stemmed from a June 3 meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, not a CoRRP demand.

The CoRRP rejected claims by state minister K G Kenye that the five “advanced” tribes hold 64% of government jobs while 10 backward tribes hold 34%, labeling the figures “wildly imaginary.” Zhimomi said the committee’s own data, to be released later, disputes this. The group insists the government, not CoRRP, must consult backward tribes benefiting from the 37% reservation quota—25% for seven Eastern Nagaland tribes and 12% for four others—established since 1977 for non-technical and non-gazetted posts.

Also Read: Outrage in Kohima: Women Rally Against Brutal Attack on Mother of Four

The reservation policy, initially set to uplift educationally and economically disadvantaged tribes, is now deemed outdated by CoRRP, failing to reflect current socio-economic realities. Protests on May 29 and July 9 across multiple districts underscored public frustration, with banners declaring the policy “oppressive” and a “mockery.” The committee warned that linking the commission’s recommendations to the 2027 national census could prompt demands to suspend the policy entirely. “This is not a boycott but a conscious non-participation,” Zhimomi clarified.

Nagaland’s cabinet, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, promised a commission by June 17, but delays fueled tensions, prompting CoRRP’s ultimatum on April 26 and rallies. Social media posts on X, like those from @NortheastToday, highlight ongoing talks, while @EconomicTimes noted the tribes’ rejection of the JRC’s composition. With the commission tasked to submit its report within six months, CoRRP plans a joint meeting with tribal apex bodies to strategize further, signaling potential escalation if demands for a neutral review remain unmet.

Also Read: Nagaland Braces for Chaos as Assam’s Eviction Drive Sparks Border Crisis!